Privacy Hedges

Looking for Plants That Will Delivery That Much Need Seclusion and Serenity?

Privacy hedges are made up of shrubs and even trees that grow tall enough to block the view. This makes them just right around patios and around pools. Not only does a tall, dense hedge provide privacy, but it makes great noise reducers. Some gardeners find that certain types of shrubs make better privacy hedges.

This isn't the deadly poisonous herb but a shrub of the species tsuga. As a slow-growing tree, hemlock can grow to over 100 feet tall, but it's usually allowed to grow to about eight feet tall as a hedge. Because it tolerates shade a bit better than over evergreens, it's excellent to place around patios or around pools.

PrivetThe privet hedge plant is an evergreen. The oval leaf privet is the variety most commonly used for privacy hedges. It produces panicles of pretty white flowers, but some people find the smell of the flowers unpleasant. Also, the fruit is toxic to humans, but good for birds. This makes it a good hedge to attract birds. It's also a food plant for many species of butterflies and moths.

Boxwood

Boxwood not only provides privacy, but its dense, small leaves makes great noise reducers. The leaves are also aromatic. Normally, boxwoods grow to between three and six feet, but some varieties can grow to 10 feet tall.

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Other shrubs that provide good hedges are arborvitae, yew, holly, viburnum and euonymus.

One thing about hedges is that it takes a while before they grow tall enough to provide privacy. This is true unless the homeowner buys all the plants fully grown, but the cost of that is prohibitive for most people.

The hedge can be staggered or straight. Before the seedlings are planted, the gardener should mark the spaces with stakes. With a staggered hedge, a straight line should be marked with a string line, and the stakes should be placed on either side of it.

The holes for the privacy shrubs should be planted as deep and twice as wide as their containers and their root balls. The container should then be eased away from the plant, and the roots should be loosened. If they've formed a tight ball, they can be trimmed. The root ball should be placed into the hole and soil should be tamped down around it. Then, the plant should be watered in thoroughly.

Depending on how quickly the plants grow and how well they're cared for, a thick, tall hedge should emerge over a few years.